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Dictionary of Atheism, Skepticism, and Humanism. By Bill Cooke. Aniherst, New York: Prometheus Pr., 2006. 606p. alkaline $70 OSBN 1-59102-299-1).
This collection of essays, apothegms, and admonitions by Bill Cooke is a topical guide to the rationalist-humanist worldview, written for a popular audience. Cooke defines concepts, gives biographical sketches, explains philosophical and religious movements, and critiques cultural trends. He traces historical and contemporary traditions of atheism, skepticism, and humanism from around the world, and exposes some of the excesses of their opponents, religious and nonreligious. To his credit, Cookes tone is not combative and his overall goal is a positive one, as he shows in his introduction: "this book is not about the falsity of religion-it is about...